The good old Calgary Stampede, for generations, has been a place of romance; lingering July summer nights, music, and dancing.
That is just the scene that set into motion the 58-year… and counting relationship between Andy and Bev Verreault.
Andy was in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), stationed in Penhold, and Bev was a single girl from Manitoba living in Calgary in 1964. They were both in downtown Calgary this evening attending the Stampede Ball street dance.
Independently they tell the Mail both of them were tired from the long day, starting with the parade, and had to be coaxed by friends into staying for the evening.
“It was almost the last dance, and I had a cowboy hat,” Andy tells the Mail. “I turned around and saw this woman behind me, and I said ‘Whoa! She’s pretty nice.’ So I walked up to her, took my hat and said ‘If this hat fits you, you are with me.”
Bev acknowledges it was a pretty bold move, especially because of her introverted nature, but it turns out the hat fit, and he got the last dance of the evening.
It set off a literal whirlwind romance. Andy went back to Penhold, and Bev carried on in Calgary.
Interestingly enough, they started the day off in close proximity. Andy had a new camera and was taking photos of the annual parade. So was Bev from across the street. Andy’s camera was so new, he must have been unfamiliar with how to load the film and had no pictures. Bev, however, has a picture of Andy from across the street.
“She said to herself, this is the guy I am going to marry,” said Andy.
They were able to visit each other on weekends, and by the August long weekend, they were engaged. In November they wed.
Andy continued with his career in the Air Force for more than a decade, in Ontario and then Vancouver. He then worked for Transport Canada in navigation.
They had two children and he retired in 1993. After trying on Calgary as a home for a few years, a visit to a friend in the valley convinced them that Drumheller would be a good fit. They have been here ever since.
The couple will be marking their 59th anniversary this coming November. Andy says the secret to their longevity is appreciation.
“I appreciate her because she is different from what I am, and she appreciates me for who I am. We both contribute our part without any difficulty because we appreciate what each one of us brings.”
Bev adds, “And our faith in God. We have a very strong faith. We've been through rough times, but it has always been there.”
